Portable sun dials



Aug. 16, 1966 R. E. BERENT PORTABLE SUN DIAL-S 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEY- Aug. 16, 1966 R. E. BERENT PORTABLE SUN DIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 INVENTOR RAYMOND E. BERENT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,266,151 PORTABLE SUN DIALS Raymond E. Berent, 440 NE. 155th Terrace, Miami, Fla. Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 400,132 7 Claims. (Cl. 33-62) This invention related to a portable sun dial and its objects is to provide a sun dial which will be collapsible to such a degree that it may be readily carried from place to place for use.

The sun dial of this invention is primarily intended for use upon ocean beaches where a readily smoothable sand permits the easy formation of a substantially fiat surface upon which a relatively large, flexible, figure carrying dial may rest, to permit the shadow from a gnomon to fall thereacross. The readily penetrable ground provided by a sandy beach permits the ready insertion into the ground of a stake-like supporting member, upon which the several elements of the structure are mounted and carried. The device is not limited to use upon beaches since it may be employed at any place where the soil conditions permit the insertion of the supporting stake and also permit the flexible figure carrying dial to lie substantially flat on the ground or sand of a beach.

The device of the invention and its method of use will be best understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a top or plan view.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation, showing a slot in the front face of the supporting post, in which slot the gnomon of the sun dial is received when the sun dial is being brought to folded or collapsed condition.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device with the parts in position of use.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view upon line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a view of the device, collapsed and disposed in a carrying case.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The device of the invention is especial-1y useful when used upon sandy beaches. Here it indicates the time of day, thus permitting the user to leave his watch at home where it cannot be lost or stolen, nor be endangered by having fine sand work its way into the interior of the watch casing.

The device of the invention comprises a vertical stake 5, having a pointed lower end 6 to facilitate its entry into the sand of a beach, or into any other ground that may be readily penetrated by a downward thrust upon said stake. At its upper end the stake carries a conventional compass 7 and a level 8. The level is preferably of the conventional dome and bubble type in which the bubble 8a of the level seeks a central position at the top of the dome 9 when the stake is in a vertical position. The dial 10 upon which the time is to be indicated comprises a collapsible web 10a which has numbers 11, indicative of the time of day, imprinted or otherwise formed thereon around its arcuate outer edge. The web 10a is formed of cloth or other suitable flexible material and is carried by a plurality of radial ribs 12. At their inner ends ribs 12 are pivoted to a fixed collar 13 upon the lower portion of stake 5. Links 14 are connected at their lower ends to ribs 12 by pivots 15 and are connected at their upper ends to a slidable collar 17, by pivots 18. Thus, by drawing the slidable collar 17 upwardly, the links 14 will swing ribs 12 upwardly to a position in which they lie alongside the stake. This brings the parts to a collapsed position in which position the structure comprising the stake, dial, links and ribs may be placed in an enclosing case 19 with the compass and level projecting from the top of the case. A holding strap 20 of conventional form draws the case to a constricted position about the folded parts and the sun dial may then be carried to the place of use.

The stake may be made of any suitable material, a molded plastic being preferred, but the invention is not limited in this respect. Whatever the material employed, an integral arcuate segment 21 is carried by the stake. The side of the stake which faces toward the dial 10 is vertically slotted at 22 for the reception of a shadow casting gnomon 23. This gnomon is of elongated, rod-like form, and is pivoted at its inner and lower end to the stake. When the device is to be collapsed, the gnomon is swung upwardly and into the vertical slot 22 while the ribs and the cloth dial lie closely beside the stake.

The arcuate segment 21 carries upon its face a scale, comprising graduation marks and latitude indicating numerals 24. This scale coacts with the gnomon in such manner that the adjustment of the gnomon may be varied in accordance with the latitude in which the sun dial is being used, the shadow cast by the gnomon upon the numbers 11 of the scale giving a fairly close indication of the time. A more accurate reading is achieved by imprinting upon the dial a number of radial lines which extend to or across the blocks or spaces 11a of the dial in which the numbers 11 are located. These radial lines are arranged in groups of three lines each, one group being devoted to each of the blocks 11a of the dial, and serving by their coaction with the shadow cast by the gnomon to indicate fractions of hours. The object is more effectually accomplished by making the lines of each group of different colors, as for example, red, blue and yellow. To more clearly explain the use of these lines, the red lines are indicated in the drawings, FIGS. l and 2, as unbroken lines; the blue lines are shown as dotted lines; and the yellow lines are shown as dot and dash lines.

The colored lines are severally used to indicate the latitude at which the sun dial is being used, but only one color line is used at any one time for a given latitude. For example, if the sun dial is being used in a Southern latitude, only the yellow lines would be used. If the device is being used at a middle latitude, only the blue lines would be used, While if the device is being used in a Northern latitude, only the red lines would be used, these lines when used coacting with the shadow cast by the gnomon. For example, at 3:00 pm. on a given day, the gnomon shadow would fall on a yellow line in a Southern latitude; on a blue line in a middle latitude; and on a red line in a Northern latitude.

When the device is to be used, the compass is set to North, and the stake is manipulated to bring the bubble to centered position in dome 9. The stake will then be standing vertically erect and the gnomon will cast a shadow which will indicate the time not only in hours but in fractions of hours, at the latitude occupied by the user and to which latitude the gnomon has been adjusted by being shifted to coact with the latitude indicating figures upon the segment 21.

The device of the invention comprises an assembly which is of economical and lightweight construction. It is collapsible and is easily carried. It may be erected to a position of use in a very short time and with little effort and it permits the user to ascertain the time in remote places and where clocks are scarce, as for example upon beaches. It accomplishes these results without the necessity for the user to expose what might be a valuable watch to the possibility of damage or loss, as described.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction described, but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly fall within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable and collapsible sun dial comprising a vertical, ground penetrating support, a dial comprising a web of flexible fabric carried by said support and, adapted to be spread upon the ground, =hour indicating figures upon the face of the web and a gnomon of elongated rod like formation pivotally carried by the support and swingable in a vertical plane to cast its shadow upon the web and upon the hour indicating figures upon said web.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 in combination with a segment past which said gnomon moves, said segment carrying latitude indicating figures with which the gnomon coacts to elfect such setting of the gnomon that the shadow cast thereby will be in accordance with the latitude at which the sundial is used.

3. A portable and collapsible sun dial comprising a vertical, ground penetrating stake, a dial comprising a web of flexible fabric carried by said stake and, adapted to be spread upon the ground, hour indicating figures upon the face of the web, a gnomon of elongated red like formation pivotally carried by the stake and swingable in a vertical planeto cast its shadow upon the web and upon the hour indicating figures upon the web, and means for drawing the web to a collapsed position against the stake.

4. A structure as recited in claim 3 in combination with a compass and a level upon the support for bringing the support to a vertical position.

5. A structure as recited in claim 3 in combination with a compass and a level mounted in a recessed position in the top of the stake.

6. A structure as recited in claim 3 in combination with a segment carried by the stake in position to have the gnomon move thereby and in close relation thereto and latitude indicating figures carried by the segment with which the gnomon coacts to cause the shadow cast by the gnomon to fall upon the web in positions indicated by the latitude figure "at which the gnomon lies at the time the sun dial is being used.

7. A structure as recited in claim 3 in which the means for drawing the web against the stake comprises a plurality of radial ribs to which the web is attached, a fixed collar upon a lower portion of the stake to which the inner ends of said ribs are pivotally connected, a slida-ble collar upon .the stake and a plurality of links, the upper ends of which are connected to the slidable collar and the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to said ribs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,185 1/1893 Chamberland 3362 1,496,403 6/1924 Atkinson 3362 2,488,605 11/ 1949 Progeneaux 33-62 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE SUN DIAL COMPRISING A VERTICAL, GROUND PENETRATING SUPPORT, A DIAL COMPRISING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE FABRIC CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND, ADAPTED TO BE SPREAD UPON THE GROUND, HOUR INDICATING FIGURES UPON THE FACE OF THE WEB AND A GNOMON OF ELONGATED ROD LIKE FORMATION PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT AND SWINGABLE IN A VERTICAL PLANE TO CAST ITS SHADOW UPON THE WEB AND UPON THE HOUR INDICATING FIGURES UPON SAID WEB. 